The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-05-20

of Judge Wescott Wilkin, of st. Paul, the
large and finely executed portrait of
Col. Alexander Wilkin. The portrait
was encased in a neat frame, and stood
upon an easel in Il prominent position ut
the speakers left, covered with beau
tiful flag of the stars and stripes.
Gen. Baker spoke from manuscript, and
his eloquent illusions To the bravery
and patriotism of the heroic Colonel
were warmly received. At an appro-
PIRATE point, the General removed the
flag which covered the portrait, and the
noble face of Col. Wilkin was presented
To view.
Gen. Baker opened his remarks by
euloglzing the custom of naming Grand
Army Posts after dead commanders. He
said that of all the many sons which
Minnesota gave for the preservation of
the Union, there were none more gal
liant than Alexander Wilkin. He por-
trayed the motives that instigated the
sacrifice of these loved sons He knew
Col. Wilkin well. The Colonel possessed
an intelligent, vigorous mind, replete
with natural force and retinement-such
Il combination of qualities as produces
great soldiers and men brilliant in Pri-
waite life. Gen -Bakor- paid &" glowing;
tribute to the memory OF his friend, al
ter which he proceeded to outline the
history of his life and achievements.
Alexander Wilkin was born in Orange
county, y. v, in December, 1920, and
was the oldest son of Alexander j. Viii
kin, a notable parsonage i'll that COM
munity, and AT one time member OF
Congress. He studied law with his faith
81 nj home, and afterwards practiccd nj
Goshen, \. y. When the Mexican wal
broke out, he organized company OF
volunteers in his own and adjoining
county, and was commissioned its cap
tain. He served under Gen. Taylor, on
the Rio Grande, in the first campaign OF
the war, but was forced to resign on ac-
count of i'll health there contracted. He
was soon afterwards appointed Inspec-
tor General of New York, by the Gov
ernor of that state, but declined the POI
sition. When the territory of MinnesO-
tn was organized he moved 10 st. Paul
and was a resident of that city during
the rest of his life. In 1851 he was APP
pointed Secretary of State of the new
territory by President Fillmore. He
was Il Wing in politics. During the
Crimean war he made a tour of Europe.
During the Presidential canvass of 1860,
he earnestly supported Douglass.
He heard the news of the firing on
Fort Sumpter while in New York. He
was standing in the street with several
other gentlemen when the news was re-
ceivcd, and one of them remarked that
fire the first gun. Mr.. Wilkin struck
him in the face, and administered Sc
we're rebuke to him.
| Wilkin raised the first company of the
| first regiment of volunteers raised in
Minnesota, and his name stood first OH
the roll of that regiment. He was made
captain of Co. "a" LIST Reg't Minnesota
of Bull Run, and for his gallant services
| in which he was commended for bravery
under trying circumstances, he was COM
| missioned captain in the 18th Reg't of
| Infantry i'll the regular army, and was
granted leave of absence during the war
for the purpose of serving i'll the volun-
| tcer army in a higher grade. In 1861 he
was made Major of the I'd Minnesota
volunteers, and took part i'll the engage
ment at Mill Springs. He was with the
army of Ohio until November, when he
was promoted to Lieutenant-ColOnc and
chief of Gen. L. w. Sherman's staff. He
afterwards saw service at st. Peter, dur
ing the Indian outbreak, and in Mis-
| souri,.
Gen. Baker gave other details of his
military career ut this time. He stated
that he had letter from Gen. Thomas
in his possession showing how much he
appreciated Col. Wilkin. Grant wanted
him with him, and in May 1864 he was
ordered to Memphis, Tenn, where the
last and most eventfnl campaign of his
life occurred. Gen. &. &. Washburn Or
dercd an expedition to proceed against
Forrest, who had been harrassing Sher-
| man. Gen. Sturgis was i'll command of
the expedition, and gave Col. Wilkin
command of a brigade. They set out
June LIST, 1864, and found the enemy
June 10th, at Guntown, Miss, where a
battle was fought The Union forces
were routed and nearly destroyed.
What men and property were saved
from the field were saved by Col. Will
kin. Washburn leaves record that
Col. Wilkin was the only one who
brought an organized force from the
field of battle. Wilkin took his station
g a 4
tected it from the attacks of the enemy.
That Guntown was retreat, not Il flight,
was due to him. He brought $500 men
and much property back into Memphis.
To successfully organize or defend de-
feated army is the most difficult and try
ing thing an officer may be called upon
to do.
Wilkin would have been made Brig
adier-General for his services i'm this bat
tie had he lived.
Another expedition, under Gen. A. J.
Smith, in which the 9th Mimi, took
part, was Immediately organized The
enemy was met and punished, but Just
on the "heel of victory" Wilkin was
killed by bullet, which pierced his
heart as he was sitting in the saddle
awaiting an order TO charge. In 1860
his remains were carried to his native
STATE, ana buried AT IOShen. orange
county, New York.
The life of Alexander Wilkin was
without spot or reproach. He was a
true, upright citizen, and gave his life
for his country. Gen. Baker then paid
tribute to Col. wilkins character. As
he unveiled the picture of Col. Wilkin,
he said that such was the man after
whom they had worthily named their
Post. Judge Wilkin, of St. Paul, had as
signed to him the duty of presenting the
picture to the Post, which he did in the
name of the only brother of the dead
Colonel.
Judge NJ. J. Severance had been Sc
lected by the Post to respond on its be-
half, and ut the conclusion of General
Bakers remarks, the Judge stepped
forward saying that Wilkin Post receiv-
ed the magnificent picture, which Judge
Wescott Wilkin had presented TO it,
with thoughtfulness and melancholy de-
light. He was not speaking to answer
the demands of conventional courtesy.
The sight of the portrait took him back
over the space Of more than twenty
years and he was standing again on a
Southern field and was agitated by the